sown & uprooted

Last weekend, the perfect occasion to bake this sweet and spicy cake that I’ve been wanting to make for some time by now, finally arrived in the form of an invitation to a Magusto party. Magusto is a typical Portuguese winter gathering with roasted chestnuts that my friends had organized in their countryside home. The super easy cake recipe was inspired by the intriguing combination of chocolate and chili found in the popular healing drink Xocolatl. Based on my “normal” chocolate nut cake recipe, I added cinnamon, aniseed and chili for a special warming cake experience with a herbal medicine twist.

Chocolate is not only a delightful treat or sinful craving but cacao is also an ancient medicinal plant. It has been popular as a cocoa drink in Mayan and Aztec culture which is referred to as xocōlātl. Xocolatl is known as a medicinal drink with aphrodisiac effects. Furthermore, cacao ceremonies with spiritual intentions are more popular and widely spread than ever. Feel invited to turn your baking into an unwinding magical ritual by clearing the space, lighting some candles or using crystals as decorative elements representing the energies that you would wish your cake to bring into the lives of those eating it. The contained chilies add a magical twist to the recipe in more than flavor, chilies are valued in herbal medicine for their aphrodisiac and warming effects, among many other health benefits of scientific interest. Cinnamon and aniseed are of course other winter classics that lend this cake their special flair. In folkloric believe they are representing love and joy turning this cake into a warming celebration of all aspects of life.

Of course, I was excited and curious for people’s opinions and delighted when the guests responded that they truly enjoyed the surprisingly different flavors of my spicy chocolate nut cake creation. Only one guest wasn’t too fond of her rather hot, mouthwatering experience with the cake. Ideally, the chocolate and nuts are dominating the cake’s taste and it is slowly that the mouth realizes the spicy, warming flavor of the chili. A fine balance that doesn’t suit everyone’s taste but makes a fine special desert experience for others.

Ingredients

• 250 g (~ 9 ounces) soft butter
• 200 g (~ 7 ounces) brown sugar
• 1 sachet vanilla sugar
• 1 pinch of salt
• 4 eggs (size M)
• 300 g (~ 10.5 ounces) flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 80 ml milk
• 4 – 6 small dried chilies (I use Piri Piri)
• a pinch of aniseed
• approx. half a teaspoon of cinnamon
• approx. 80 – 100g (3.5 ounces) of 100% cacao powder
• 1 bar of baking chocolate (I use one with 52% or up to 70%)
• 1 bar of dark baking chocolate (70% minimum) for the couverture
• 200 g (~ 7 ounces) walnuts
• 100g (~ 3.5 ounces) almonds

Directions

1. Beat the butter, brown sugar, vanilla sugar and salt with the whisk on a hand mixer until creamy. Stir in the eggs until the mixture is smooth.
2. Mix the flour and baking powder and add in small portions alternating with the milk.
3. Cut the chilies and add them to the mix. Add in a pinch of aniseed and approximately half teaspoon of cinnamon. Stir well.
4. Add the cacao powder to give this cake a nice chocolate color!
5. Break the baking chocolate into piece and also add them to the mix. Don’t bother if the pieces are a little bigger it’s turning out nicely if they are.
6. Crunch the walnut package with your hands to break the nuts apart and add them in. Stir it all until the mix feels even.
7. Grease a standard size baking form with some butter. Pour the dough into the prepared tin and smooth it out.
8. Bake the cake in a preheated oven (approx. 180 °C) for approximately 45 minutes. Test with a skewer or fork: if moist dough sticks to the skewer or fork the cake needs a bit more time.
9. Remove the cake from the oven and leave to cool for approx. 10 minutes.
10. Let’s prepare the dark chocolate coverture. Heat the chocolate over a water bath. Stir it until smooth and pour the hot chocolate over the cake. You can use a spoon to spread the chocolate more evenly.
11. Then, Sprinkle the almonds on top to finish your cake.

Enjoy!

-with love-

Lina

sown & uprooted

https://for-a-better-living.com

Please note: As with all things in life, some things will have ripple effects and the amounts make the difference. So please don’t overdose for example by using too many supplements additionally to a well balanced diet. Especially if you are on medication, suffer a medical condition, are prone to allergic reactions and during pregnancy it’s recommended to seek medical advisory before starting any self medication.